VISITOR SURGE AT RAMADAN FAIR

Ongoing Sharjah fair sees 52% rise in visitor turnout

Sharjah, 4th August 2013: Creating a record of sorts, the ongoing Ramadan & Eid Fair at Expo Centre Sharjah has registered a staggering 52 per cent rise in the number of visitors in the first 11 days of the show.

The show got under way on July 18 and will continue until August 10, covering the Ramadan as well as the Eid holidays.

According to footfall compiled for the first 11 days, Ramadan & Eid Fair has seen 61,325 people visiting the show, compared to 40,327 in 2012, registering a massive 52.07 per cent rise.

Maximum visitor numbers were clocked on Thursdays and Fridays, with July 18 and 19 attracting 6,617 and 6,590 and July 25 and 26 receiving 7,240 and 7,047 respectively.

“Though Ramadan & Eid Fair has registered considerable growth over the years, we have never seen such huge turnout in the past 26 years of the show. With Eid holidays already announced, we are expecting much more visitor footfalls in the coming days,” said Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

Mr. Midfa attributed the rise in turnout to excellent packaging of the event, which, while being positioned as the best multi-products consumer fair in the region, has an exciting mix of cultural, religious, charitable, health, amusement and entertainment activities.

“The Taste of Ramadan Week is a new addition to the show, and is presenting a large slice of the country's rich and vibrant culinary scene to visitors who are from diverse nationalities. Its live cooking and tasting sessions are a hit with visitors,” said Mr. Midfa.

The religious lecture series were readily embraced by the faithful, who thronged the lectures delivered on July 25 and August 1 by Shaikh Zafarul Hasan Madni in Urdu and Al Shaikh Eisa Jaffer in Tagalog respectively.

Other scholars who are taking part in the series include Al Shaikh Dr. Mohammed Ghaith Al Ghaith (in Arabic) and Al Shaikh Ehab Nadir (in English).

The Sharjah Health Zone is providing free health check up for visitors, while other programmes include a quiz competition for children, and the popular heritage village, among others.

Apart from regular activities, during the Eid days, there will be additional events like adventure rides, magic shows, cartoon characters, Arabic shows and folk dances.

Fabulous prizes including iPads, flat-screen TVs, fridge, cooking ranges, microwave ovens, dinner sets, air tickets and free gift hampers are up for grabs for lucky shoppers.

The show is open for visitors from 8.30 p.m. to 1.30 a.m. during Ramadan and on weekends (Thursdays & Fridays) from 8.30 p.m. to 2 a.m. During Eid holidays the visiting hours are from 5p.m. to 11p.m. Admission is free.